The Ukrainian military has reported that Russia's forces in Ukraine have lost over 6,000 tanks in almost 23 months of war, underscoring the protracted and brutal nature of the conflict. The figures, released by Ukraine's armed forces, indicate a steady attrition of Russia's tank fleet, with 12 tanks lost in the past 24 hours alone.

While these numbers have not been independently verified by Newsweek, experts suggest that they are likely to be a close approximation of the actual losses suffered by Moscow. Both sides have refrained from releasing their own equipment loss figures, complicating efforts to establish a comprehensive picture of the damage inflicted.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, as of the beginning of 2023, Russia had approximately 1,800 operational main battle tanks. However, the institute noted "significant losses to Russian military power" during the first ten months of the conflict, particularly in their armored fighting vehicles. The devastation included the loss of around half of their pre-war T-72 fleet as well as many of their newer T-80 tanks.

In response to the depleting tank fleet, Russia has resorted to bringing older tanks, such as the T-55, out of storage and upgrading them. However, experts warn that these antiquated vehicles are less effective against the Ukrainian forces, which boast newer and better-maintained military equipment. In fact, reports surfaced in June 2023, revealing that Russian forces had even utilized mothballed tanks as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

Russia's military blunders during the conflict were evident from the start, according to analysts. Factors contributing to the high tank losses included organizational failures, poor planning, inadequate training, low morale, and ruptures in the chain of command. The most experienced tank crews were deployed in the early weeks of the full-scale war, leaving behind inexperienced recruits without sufficient guidance.

Other international sources corroborate Ukraine's claims of Russia's tank losses. In November 2023, the UK's armed forces minister stated that Russia had lost over 7,117 armored vehicles, including nearly 2,475 main battle tanks. Additionally, satellite imagery analysis provided by the Frontelligence Insight project showed that Russia lost over 211 vehicles in and around the town of Avdiivka during its offensive in October-November 2023.

The ongoing conflict has not been one-sided, with Ukraine also suffering losses. However, Ukraine's Soviet-era tank fleet has been supplemented by Western-made tanks, including German Leopard tanks, British Challenger 2s, and US M1 Abrams tanks. The Kremlin, on the other hand, claims that Ukraine has lost a staggering 14,472 tanks and armored vehicles, without specifying the breakdown between main battle tanks and other armored vehicles.

As the war in Ukraine enters its 23rd month, it remains uncertain when and how it will ultimately be resolved. Both parties continue to bear the heavy toll of the conflict, particularly in terms of their armored assets, with Russia's once formidable tank fleet now significantly diminished.